Watercolour box owned by Richard Bawden
The Fry Gallery’s collection doesn’t consist solely of artworks. We also own a surprising quantity of ephemera relating to ‘our’ artists, as well as an ever-expanding treasure trove of archive material. We were therefore delighted to be offered this well-used watercolour box that belonged to Richard Bawden (1936-2024).
There is something quietly compelling about studio objects. They are the everyday companions of an artist’s working life, shaped over time by repeated use and familiar gestures. This particular box, marked by years of mixing and making, offers a tangible connection to Bawden’s practice and to the countless moments of looking, testing colour, and painting that lay behind finished works, many of which were recently on display at the Fry.
The gallery is extremely grateful to the continuing generosity of the artist’s family.